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Indiana Bicentennial Celebration 2016

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Legacy Projects > Saving Pvt. Shaw Saving Pvt. Shaw

Pvt. Shaw is a statue on a grave of a soldier who died May 14, 1900 in the Philippines Insurrection. His family commissioned a statue of his likeness of a soldier to adorn his grave in Westley Cemetery, Westport, IN. It stood until the mid-1960’s when vandals knocked it off its base and although various attempts were made to restore the statue it continued to deteriorate into 11 pieces. Money was raised by private individuals and township support and on May 25, 2015 the newly restored statue stands once more on the grave and was rededicated with more than 50 family, neighbors, officials and townspeople in attendance.

Pvt. Shaw waited 50 years to stand and watch over the fields where he once lived and taught. It’s our goal to make sure his story is preserved during Indiana’s 200th anniversary. His military records will be available through the Decatur County Historical Society. We have been asked to speak at a cemetery workshop and anticipate more education in preservation and restoration.

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